Key attachment



y 2, 1961 J. E. KENT 2,982,041

KEY ATTACHMENT Filed Maroh 10, 1959 FIG. 1

INVENTQR. Jay E. Kem

AT TO RNEY l n s fsw 2w 298L041 KEY ATTACHMENT in E. an, 540 and st, Nw York 21, NLY. Filed Mar. 10, 1959, Ser. No. 798,413 a iiiiiii. (01. 46-336 This invention pertains to key attachments and more particularly to attachments to the head of a key for permitting the easy identification of a group of similar keys. 7 i p In the past, there have been proposed many key identifiers which are basically attachments for the heads of keys. Some of these identifiers are molded rubber pockets that are stretched over the heads of keys. Although such identifiers achieve their desired purpose, they are most .difiicult to stretch over the key heads. Furthermore, 'such identifiers required expensive and complex molds. Other identifiers have been proposed which do not have these problems. In this second class ofidentifiers are metal sheets that are stamped in the outline of a key head with tabs extending from their edges. After placing the stamping on the key head, the tabs are folded over to engage the face of the key head. While it is true, such identifiers are easier and consequently cheaper to fabricate, the edges of the metal tabs have a tendency to snag the material of pockets, purses and the like in which a user normally carries the keys, and also to injure the hand or fingers of the user.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improved key attachment which permits the immediate identification of a desired key from a group of similar keys. v

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved key attachment for the identification of keys which cannot cause injury to the person or the clothing of the user.

It is a further object of the invention to satisfy the above objects of the invention with, a key attachment which while being durable is also very simple and inexpensive to fabricate. D g

Briefly, in accordance with the invention, a key attach: m entis provided which includes first and second surfaces of a resilient material. The surfaces are of substantially identical shape. The edges of the surfaces are joined, to form a snugly fitting cover for the head of a key; A" first opening is provided along one portion of the periphery of the joined surfaces through which the shank and at least a portion of the head of a key may pass. A second opening is also provided along the periphery of the joined surfaces through which the shank of the key may pass.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a key with a key attachment on the head of the key in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a key having a head of different outline covered by the key attachment of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the blank for the key attachment of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a key having a key attachment on the head of the key in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; and

particular key from a Figure 5 is a plan view of theblank for ment of Figure 4. I

Referring to Figure 1, a key attachment 10 is shown as an identifier means for a key 12. The attachment 10 is fitted about the head 14 of the key 12. The key attachment 10 is fabricated from a sheet 16 of elastic material, preferably a resilient plastic such as polyethylene, poly} styrene or vinyl copolymers, or any suitable material which would serve the purpose. J

As is shown in Figure 3, the sheet 16 is symmetrical in outline about a center line 18. A slot 20 is disposed in sheet 16 along the center line 18. Slot 20 is provided to permit the passing through of shank 22 of key 12 as is hereinafter more fully described. Sheet 16 is folded along center line 18 to form two surfaces or plies 24 and 26.- When sheet 16 is folded flat, corresponding portions of the edges of the plies Hand 26 are seamed by, using conventional dielectric heating techniques to form seams 28 and 30. In particular, seam 28 starts from the end 280 of fold along center line 18 and continues to a point 28b. Similarly, seam 30 starts from the end 30 of thefold' along the center line 18 and ends at a point 30b. The sig nificance of the points 28b and 30b are hereinafter more fully described. 7 U v In general, the outline of each of the plies 24 and 26 follows the outline .of the head 14 of key 12. However, it should be noted that those edges 34 and 36 of the plies 24 and 26 opposite to the fold along center line 18 extend concavely inwardly toward the fold so thatthe convenf tional hole 38 in the head 14 of the key 12 is bare or exposed. v

The space between the end of the seam 28 at thepoint 28b to the point 30b at the end of the seam 30 provides an opening through'which the key 12 is inserted. The distance'between the points 28b and 30b is chosen to be less than the maximum diameter of the head 14 of the key 12.

To place the key attachment 10 on the key 12, the shank 22 is inserted in the opening between the points 28b and 30b and guided through the slot 20. When the head 14 reaches the opening between the points 28b and 30b it is necessary to stretch the elastic material of the the key attach sheet 16. When the base of the head 14 is abutting the fold along the center line 18, the stretching is relaxed and the key attachment 10 snugly fits about a portion of the head 14 with the hole 38 exposed.

Although the key 12 of Figure 1 has a head 14 which is" in the shape of a cloverleaf, the key attachment 10 may equally well be usedas an identifier for a key 12' with a ably accommodate such and other variations in the out line of key heads;

Figures 4 and 5 show an alternate embodiment of the invention in which the head of the key 12 is completely covered by key attachment 60. Sheet 66 has two portions 74 and 76 that are symmetrically disposed about a center line 68. Each of the portions 74 and 76 has an outline substantially conforming to the outline of the head 14 of the key 12. Sheet 66 is folded along center line 68 so that the portions 74 and 76 form two plies extending from the center line 68. A slot 70 is cut along center line 68 through which the shank 22 may pass. When sheet 66 is folded fiat, corresponding edges of the plies or portions 74 and 76 are seamed by dielectric heating techniques. The seam 78 starts from the end of the fold 78a and continues to the point 78b, and the seam 80 starts from the end of the fold 80a and continues to the point 80b.

The space between the points 78b and 8012 provide an opening through which the key 12 is inserted shank portion first- The shank 22 is guided through the slot 70 while the head 14 is slid through the opening between the 3 the points 78b and 8%. Holes 90 and 92 in the sheet 66 substantially register with the hole 38 in the head of the key 12. Thus when the key 12 is placed on a key ring, the key attachment 60 is helped to retain its position on the head of the key 12. Although key attachment is shown in clover leaf outline, it should'be apparent to those skilled in the art that circular or other outlines which conform to other conventional key heads may be used.

It should be noted that, in general, the key attachments will be available in sets wherein each ofthe key attachments is of a different color. With present day plastics, the color is easily incorporated with thematerial so that a separate coloring step is unnecessary. Thematerial used may also have a surface which permits writing thereon. 7 N

There will now be obviousto those skilledin the art many modifications and variations which satisfy the objects and realize many or all of the advantagesbut which do not depart from the spirit of the invention asdefined in the claims which follow.

Whatisclaimedis: I g

' l. A key attachment comprising first andsecond surfaces of a thermoplastic resilient material, sai d first and second surfaces having substantially identical shapes, the peripheries of said first and second surfaces being fused to forma snug fitting cover for the head of a key, a first opening along the common periphery of the surfaces through which the shank and at least a portion of the head of a key may pass, and a second opening along the common periphery of the surfaces smaller than said first opening through which the shank of the key may pass.

2. A key attachment comprising a folded sheet of thermoplastic resilient material, the two sides of said sheet of resilient material being substantially symmetrically shaped about the fold line, a slot in said sheet of resilient material along said fold line through which the shank of a key may pass, said sheet of resilient material being folded substantially flat along said foldline, a fused seam for joining corresponding portions of the folded sheet of resilient material whereby a pocket is formed for accommodating at least a portion of the head of a key, said seam havless than the maximum transverse dimension of the key ing an opening larger than said slot for permitting the passing through of the shank and at least a portion of the head of the key.

3. A key attachment comprising a folded sheet of elastic material, said folded sheet forming first and second surfaces being substantially symmetrically shaped about the fold line, a slot in said sheet of elastic material along said fold line through which the shank of a key may pass,

head and sufiicient upon extension thereof to permit the insertion of the shank and at least a portion of the head of a key between said plies.

4. A key attachment comprising a folded sheet of elastic material, the two folds of said sheet of elastic material being substantially symmetrical about the fold line, a slot in said sheet of elastic material along said fold line, said slot being sufiiciently large to only permit the passing through of the shank of a key, the portions of said folded sheet of elastic material on either side of said told line being substantially similar in outline to the outline of the head of a key with the edges of said portions opposite said fold line being concave inward toward said fold line, said sheet of elastic material being folded substantially flat along said fold line to provide a pair of similarly shaped plies extending from said fold line, a first seam joining corresponding edges of said plies from one end of the fold to one end of the concave inward portion, a second seam joining corresponding edges of said plies disposed from the other end of the fold to'the other end of the concave inward portion to provide a snugly fitting extensible pocket of the key head, the distance between said ends of the concave inward portion being less than the maximum transverse dimension of said key head, said concave inward portion being sufiiciently long to permit the insertion of the shank and head of the key with the concave inward portion extending sufliciently toward the fold to provide for the exposure of opening in the head of the key.

5. A key attachment comprising a folded sheet of elastic material, the two folds of said sheet of elastic material being substantially symmetrical about the fold line, a slot in said sheet of elastic maten'alalong said fold line, said slot being sufiiciently large to only permit the passing through the shank of a key, the portion of said elastic sheet on either side of said fold line being substantially similar in outline to the outline of a key head, said sheet of elastic material being folded substantially flat along said fold line to form a pair of similarly shaped plies, a first seam joining corresponding edges of said plies from one end of the fold to a-first point along said edges, a second seam joining corresponding'portions of the edges of said plies from the other end of said fold to a second point along said edges to provide a snugly fitting pocket for a key head, the distance between said first and second points being less than the maximum transverse dimension of the key head, the pocket being extensible to permit the insertion of said shank and head of the key.

. References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,868,563 Cicourel July 26, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS 411,405 Great Britain June 7, 1934 

